Chelsea Stardust leads Pete, Kynan, and Tommy in an exploration of three horror films made for almost nothing — and built to last. The Battery, Starry Eyes, and Hellbender prove that a great script and a fearless performance can outrun any budget, especially when transformation is the whole point.

Giant monster month turns out to be less about creatures and more about systems that collapse the moment they’re needed. The Host, Troll Hunter, and Godzilla Minus One (Minus Color) all ask the same question: what do you do when the biggest thing in the room isn’t the monster?

Ever stayed in a situation one beat too long because leaving felt worse than staying? This month on Sitting in the Dark, we’re talking The Invitation, The Night House, and Caveat—three films that understand the terrifying math of “just a few more minutes.”